Please to give feedback on all tapewounds.

billoetjen · #1 05-26-2010, 08:27 AM

Hi,
I have a Warmoth-based 4 string FL that has all the good stuff I could find in it (my selection of woods, hardware and Villex passive p/j.

I'm not playing it much because I've been pretty disappointed with the "tone." Tone is soooo personal and subjective. What I love other folks often hate. But, whether I use LaBella DTB flats, or Chromes, or TI JF344's the tone is not to my taste.

Thinking of switching to tapewounds. I haven't tried tapes, so I'm looking for people's feedback on their experiences with tapewound on FL.
Two that stand out in the posts I've read so far are LaBella and Fender. Thanks in advance, people.
Bill

jasper383 · #2 05-26-2010, 08:36 AM

I think I have tried all of the US tapewounds, as well as the Rotos.

The Fenders are not as smooth as the rest--they are kind of bumpy.

The La Bellas (buy the Carvin set--they are the same thing) had the most "character" to their sound--maybe the most growl? The Rotos had the most highs. The GHS set will fit any bass without having to mess with the nut. All of them are very good at what tapes are supposed to do--smooth feel and sound, more high mids than flats.

The sound of all of the tapes are so similar, that I would just buy a set and go. I would recommend the Fenders or the GHS to start--least investment.

newbold · #3 05-26-2010, 03:25 PM

I play rotosound TruBass88's and they're nylon flats. I love them. Had a rockbass corvettes with another kind of tapewound strings on (bought the bass with them on) and liked them but they certainly weren't as fat.

I suggest the rotos but the LaBellas get some great tone too...+1 on 'just get a set' but if you're looking for something truly special, go roto. Ebay has some great deals sometimes. Otherwise, juststrings.com is a good place to go...get a big order and save on shipping.

Pilgrim · #4 05-26-2010, 10:34 PM

I don't play it a lot, but my fretless has Fender tapewounds on it - they sound great. Warm sounding and easy to play.

queevil · #5 05-26-2010, 10:42 PM

I play the Fender Nylon Tapewound 9120's. To me they're kinda dark and thumpy with a hint of brightness. They last a long time, the tension is really low and they just feel good to me.

mongo2 · #6 05-27-2010, 05:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billoetjen

Hi,
I'm not playing it much because I've been pretty disappointed with the "tone." Tone is soooo personal and subjective. What I love other folks often hate. But, whether I use LaBella DTB flats, or Chromes, or TI JF344's the tone is not to my taste.

Thinking of switching to tapewounds. I haven't tried tapes, so I'm looking for people's feedback on their experiences with tapewound on FL.
Two that stand out in the posts I've read so far are LaBella and Fender. Thanks in advance, people.
Bill

FWIW:

I've been switching around with flats and tapes for over 20 years and never really felt the tone was what I wanted on fretted or frettless. My most used strings are Chromes, Labella 760 stainless and 760N tapes, and Fender 9050s.

I tried them on Ps, P/Js, Js and many other instruments, long and short scale. While I felt they all worked (some better than others) and nobody ever complained, they weren't "it" as far as I was concerned.

A while ago I tried something different, I built a DIY shortscale EUB (fretted) with a Mustang neck, DIY maple body, Badass II bridge, and a Bartolini P pickup in the standard position (adjusted for the scale). With flats or tapes it was OK but not quite it.

I then stumbled upon a picture of Leland Sklar's Gibson signature bass and noticed the P pickups were reversed and one set looked like it was closer to the neck than the standard P position. So, I built another body from the same plank of maple with the P pickup reversed and a bit closer to the neck. With flats it's much better but with Labella tapes it's pretty much what I've been looking for.

Now I'm thinking of getting a Warmoth fretless shortscale neck for it when they become available.

Moral of the story: Turns out it wasn't just the strings I needed to work with to get what I wanted.

**TheMutt** · #7 05-27-2010, 05:30 AM

I have RotoSound RS-88 Tru Bass strings strung up on my fretless. Loving the sound, and depending on where I am plucking I can get a lot of different tones. Closer to the neck gives a great upright like tone, while closer to the bridge has a very strong and clear attack, but playing anywhere and the right way and I can get all the mwah that I want.

billoetjen · #8 05-27-2010, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mongo2

FWIW:

noticed the P pickups were reversed and one set looked like it was closer to the neck than the standard P position.

No question in my mind that the reversed P arrangement makes a difference. The standard arrangement emphasizes too much the shift in tone from the bassy, thumpy E/A strings to the middy, clanky tone of the D/G strings. I believe that I can hear it in my own basses and on soundclips. The reversed sounds like a smoother transition between the strings.

I had to pay a surcharge to Warmoth when they routed my FL for the reversed P's. Worth it, but doesn't give me the up-righty tone I'd hoped for.

I'm kinda between choosing the LaBella tapes over the Fender. I guess I gotta stop being a crybaby and try both.

mongo2 · #9 05-27-2010, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billoetjen

No question in my mind that the reversed P arrangement makes a difference. The standard arrangement emphasizes too much the shift in tone from the bassy, thumpy E/A strings to the middy, clanky tone of the D/G strings. I believe that I can hear it in my own basses and on soundclips. The reversed sounds like a smoother transition between the strings.

"Smooooth" is precisely how I and our drummer described the tone with the reversed pickup.

Mojo-Man · #10 05-27-2010, 12:53 PM

The GHS tapewounds are my favorite.
I like there 105 on the E-string. (fits any bass.)
They get better, with age.
They also, work great with hollowbody basses.

rickdog · #11 05-27-2010, 01:05 PM

I'm using the GHS tapewounds on my Fender fretless (Jazz body, Precision neck). Love 'em.

Phalex · #12 05-27-2010, 01:38 PM

I use the LaBella's on my fretless. They sound play and feel great. One caveat however: If you decide to do a bunch of quick slides up and down the neck, they will give you friction burns faster than a non nylon wound string.

davelowell2 · #13 05-27-2010, 02:09 PM

I've tried LaBella and Fender.
I did not like the Fender's. I did not like the low tension and the feel was odd to me, not smooth like I was expecting, but bumpy and almost "cheap" and "plasticky", IMO.

I like the LaBella's much more, however, I do wish for a higher tension. They are very smooth to the touch and deep sounding. I was gaga over them for about a month and then had to start selling basses for cash. I still have the strings and, when I get back on my bass feet, they'll be on something. Probably a jazz bass for dubby reggae smoothy subness.

Never tried the GHS or Rotosound, but the Roto's intrigue me as they are flats with tape as opposed to rounds with tape like the others, or so I've read.

jasper383 · #14 06-05-2010, 06:49 PM

I just got a set of the Fenders--the new Fenders with the colored ball ends and the new packaging.

They seem a little less bumpy than the old Fenders--maybe this is a reformulation now that D'Addario is involved? D'Addario doesn't make tapes, so not sure what their contribution is here.

They sound really good, like pretty much all the other tapes do. I put them on my Jaguar Bass.

BackToTheGroove · #15 06-09-2010, 08:25 PM

davelowell: "I've tried LaBella and Fender. I did not like the Fender's. I did not like the low tension and the feel was odd to me, not smooth like I was expecting, but bumpy and almost "cheap" and "plasticky", IMO."

Also tried the Fenders with the 110 E (they make two types), and as much as I tried to like them, I just got to hate them. On my Fender Kingman first, thinking tapewounds a perfect match on an acoustic bass. Then tried them on my Squire VMJ fretless. Just too "plast-icky" and go clickity-clack while you play. I even used steel wool to rough up the exterior hoping to improve play and add warmth to the tone. Nope. They're sitting on the shelf for now.

But I'd still like to try the LaBellas or the GHS before I write-off tape wounds all together.

JerBo · #16 06-09-2010, 09:04 PM

Disclaimer: I have only tried Rotosound 88's for tapewounds....

I would advise against Rotosound 88's
People here RAVE about them and I wonder why they like them so much.
IMO they are not usable strings. The tension is so low you can't get a solid note on the E string, and to me, they have made any bass I put them on sound like a cheap plastic piece of garbage.

Pretty extreme opinion, I know... I suppose it's possible I got a defective set, but I highly doubt my opinion would change about them. (can't imagine the hole set is off that badly)

I would try anything else but them.

also, if you have frets, the rotosound 88's have a horrible clanky/microphonic sound to them. I think they are horrible strings and WAY overpriced. JMO

Atomisk · #17 06-25-2010, 11:40 PM

If anyones looking for some tapewounds im selling my GHS 5 string set for 20$ shipped just PM me

Peaceful · #18 06-26-2010, 08:05 AM

Any one else tried these: D'Addario XL Chromes ECB81-5?
I have five on my Michael Kelly acoustic Dragonfly and four on my P-bass. When I change strings on the Godin I'll get five more.

I like the warm tone and smooth feel.

I have D'Addario Helicore Light on my Upton double bass. I guess I like flat wounds!

lmfreeman9 · #19 06-28-2010, 06:31 AM

I have tried most of the tapewounds out there but never stuck with any of them as they are somewhat limited. They sound great for blues and classic rock.

Fender 9120s-I like the best they are shiny and the transition of playing rounds to the feel of these is easiest. I like the feel, the thump and suprisingly good highs.

Rotos-Have a strange feel which I couldn't get with.

Pyramids and LaBellas-Are similar to rotos but have a slightly better feel and can get a nice upright woody sound.

Never tried the GHS.

davelowell2 · #20 06-28-2010, 09:31 AM

I have a set of the Rotosound 88 on my violin bass now. Medium scale.

The E was totally wonky and dead sounding out of the box. I'm in week three waiting for a new one. I appreciate them sending a new one, if they really did, but I'd like to be able to play the bass with an E string.

They sound good, I might like the LaBella's better. The tension is pretty low, not sure if I can deal with that, but Roto is making my decision a lot easier every day, week spent waiting... I'll be putting on some LaBella flats after this week, I have a feeling.